N.Z. to have toys standard

Press, 6 August 1981, Page 17

N.Z. to have toys standard

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

Widespread concern over accidents caused by toys that are badly designed or badly made has led to tougher safety standards being issued in Britain. Australia, and other nations. Now the Standards Association of New Zealand has released new draft specifications setting tighter guidelines for the design and manufacture of toys in this country. Toy safety is complex. Many facets need to be considered and related to different types of toy, each of which has its own particular hazards. Also complex is the question of what is a “toy?” The Standards Association of Australia gave a simple definition: "Toys are tools used by children.” The standard at present used in New Zealand is based on a 1968 British standard. It has been revised several times since then but is essentially the same.

During the International Year of the Child, in 1979, the Accident Compensation Commission asked for and sponsored the development of a New Zealand standard for the safety of toys. A special committee has been at work studying the problems since then. t Their draft standard is DZ 5820 (specification for the safety .of toys). It is. based substantially oh the present Australian standard, with some changes' made to the labelling, packaging, and tox : icological sections. It covers most of the common hazards

associated with toys, and has been prepared in four parts. Part I relates to the general requirements which are common to all toys. Parts 11, 111 and IV deal with the constructional, toxicological, and flammability requirements. The committee’s main objective was to establish safety requirements that eliminate the more obvious hazards. There can be no absolute safety with toys, even those that "meet all the requirements of the proposed standard. The choice of a suitable toy for a particular child must remain the responsibility of the buyer.

The Standards Association believes that education can play a big part in reducing the number of accidents. Toys are bought by adults and ought to be chosen with the intellectual and physical level of development of the child in mind. Care needs to be exercised to ensure that toys which are intended for use by older children do not fall into the hands of much younger children, who may not appreciate the consequences of incorrect use. DZ 5820 has been prepared by representatives of the Accident Compensation Commission, Consumers’ Institute, D.5.1.R., Federation of Labour, Department of Health, Bureau of Importers and Exporters, Manufacturers' Federation, Retailers' Federation, and Plunket Society.